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Have you ever wondered why pink is a "girls" color and blue is a "boys" color? Where do these color associations come from? And just how long have we attributed feminine and masculine qualities to these specific hues?
According to Historical Boys Clothing, our currently held beliefs of gender specific colors didn't come about until the 1920s. Take this reference from an early 20th century publication, for example:
"At one point pink was considered more of a boy's color, (as a watered-down red, which is a fierce color) and blue was more for girls. The associate of pink with bold, dramatic red clearly affected its use for boys. An American newspaper in 1914 advised mothers, "If you like the color note on the little one's garments, use pink for the boy and blue for the girl, if you are a follower of convention." [The Sunday Sentinel, March 29, 1914.]"
Or this color "rule" from Ladies Home Journal:
"There has been a great diversity of opinion on the subject, but the generally accepted rule is pink for the boy and blue for the girl. The reason is that pink being a more decided and stronger color is more suitable for the boy, while blue, which is more delicate and dainty, is prettier for the girl." [Ladies Home Journal, June, 1918]
Notice anything interesting? Blue is for girls and pink is for boys! A complete switch from today's color "rules". Pink was considered a male color because it was derived from the powerful and virile color red. And blue was considered more "delicate" - perfect for little girls.
By the 1920s and 1930s it seems pink began to make its transition from being a masculine color to a feminine one. Probably the most compelling explanation for this transition was Nazi Germany's use of a pink triangle to identify male homosexual prisoners. It's suggested that the pink triangle itself wasn't actually "feminine", but rather it symbolized that the prisoners liked men.
There are a few theories as to why blue became a popular color for boys. It could have gained a masculine association because it was used for school uniforms in the 17th century. According to Historical Boys Colors:
"...this was not because blue had any special significance, but in part because blue dyes, relatively easy to produce, were inexpensive".
Blue has also been used extensively in many military uniforms, which most likely attributes to its current level of masculinity.
Some recent theories present the idea that color preferences may be biological and that females are drawn to pinks because of evolutionary needs. Dr. Anya Hurlburt, a researcher from Newcastle University who preformed a recent study on the subject, suggests:
"...evolution may have driven females to prefer reddish colours - reddish fruits, healthy, reddish faces. Culture may exploit and compound this natural female preference”.
Though the study brings forth an interesting idea, it is far from conclusive. There is no doubt that there is an inherent, biological meaning to color for humans. But because color has a very profound emotional and psychological effect on us individually based on our own unique personal experiences, it seems a bit of a stretch to consider this "the" answer to the mystery surrounding pink and blue preferences. It makes far more sense to suggest that these preferences are developed through society and cultural conditioning.
Over the years the pink and blue gender color associations have naturally crossed over from clothing into home decor. Take these images from the Restoration Hardware Baby & Child catalog. It's not difficult to tell which room is for girls and which room is for boys, is it? The blue room is decidedly masculine - the pink, feminine.
Although traditional pinks and blues are still widely used for nurseries and kids rooms it's becoming more and more popular for parents to opt for "gender neutral" decor when designing a child's room. Color combinations for designs are getting brighter and more sophisticated. Once popular pastel yellows and greens, which are often the answer to the gender specific color dilemma, are making way for more playful hues. Recent color combinations are beginning to blur the lines between what is "for girls" and what is "for boys".
So, if you are ready to break some gender barriers and get to work on a new design for your baby or child, take a look at some of these fresh and playful color palettes that are wonderfully "gender neutral":
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